photo by roniweb Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here DEAR SARA: Could you tell me whether you can freeze corn on the cob? I hit a deal today for 12 ears of corn for $1.98! If you can, how? — alarosalpn, forums
photo by sciondriver Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here We had our gas meter moved from inside the garage to outside, so the service technician checked for leaks. If our meter hadn’t been moved, I probably wouldn’t have thought to have anyone check it. It’s one of those things I take for [...]
photo by marlana Article continues below ↓ advertisement | your ad here Frugal people know how to make things. It’s not just a way of combating costs. For many, these are basic life skills and a way of life. A little self-reliance goes a long way. It’s easier to start out small and build your [...]
photo by Todd Ehlers It’s interesting what people will give up when they have to. Equally interesting are the things people don’t give up even when they probably should. I see a lot of parents spending an enormous amount of money on summer camp for their kids. I get numerous fliers from my children’s school [...]
photo by mwri High food prices have more people planting produce gardens. Many have decided to skip adding their usual annuals and perennials to save on costs. Instead, some people are planting fruit-bearing shrubs and trees, or they’re buying from U-pick farms, roadside stands or local farmer’s markets. Early in the growing season, rhubarb, blueberry [...]
photo by tale kinker DEAR SARA: How long will chicken last in the fridge after it has been cooked? I pressure-cooked a package of boneless, skinless chicken breasts five nights ago and used some of them. I planned to use the rest the next night, so I put the leftovers and the chicken broth from [...]
photo by seriously photographic Tips are sent to me from all over the world. I love the first tip because I’ve never considered getting my hair cut by a barber. I like the whole wash, cut and style I get at the salon. If my hairstyle required clippers, I’d give it a try on a [...]
photo by zacklur When I was growing up, generic products seemed inferior to brand-name products. We grew a garden, so our house wasn’t filled with generic canned vegetables, but I do remember the black-and-white or yellow-and-black labels. There were no fancy descriptions. Look at a can or box on a supermarket shelf now, and you [...]
photo by Arlette Cooking existed long before boxed and canned convenience goods. While some prepackaged products provide tasty shortcuts, it’s good to know how to make things yourself. You want your family to enjoy more than just add-water, heat-and-eat meals. Many from-scratch recipes are simple and don’t take a long time to make. In a [...]
DEAR SARA: I asked my mother-in-law what my sister-in-law might like for her upcoming birthday. She told me she wanted a Mary Ann pan. I was too embarrassed to ask what it is. What is it? — Becky Cody, Kansas
photo by talekinker Homemade gravy is far superior to what you can buy in the store. It’s cheaper, too. It’s oil, liquid, such as stock, and a thickener. Seems simple enough. Yet how often have you bought a can, jar or packet? The trick to making gravy without lumps is to make a slurry by [...]
photo by ceanandjen “There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” — Anais Nin Gardeners are optimists. I realized that as I planted four bare-root perennials. They’d been sitting in a bag for way too long. I completely forgot about [...]
Photo by daxiang stef DEAR SARA: I have half a small pan (three wedges) of leftover cornbread from last night. It wasn’t that great so I doubt it’s going anywhere unless I can think of some creative way to revamp it. I’m trying so hard not to toss food! Any ideas? — Lukesmama, via forums [...]
photo by alibree No-bake recipes are quick and easy. Their simplicity makes them ideal for kids to create (very little wait time) or on days you’re in a hurry or don’t feel like turning on the oven. Best of all, there’s minimal cleanup. Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 2 cups sugar [...]
photo by ninjapoodles After advocating frugality for years and sharing success stories, it’s only fair that I mention that frugal strategies don’t work equally well for everyone. Whether it’s a spouse who’s not on board, time restraints, good intentions gone bad or an unwillingness to pinch a penny until it screams, you’re bound to take [...]
photo by house of sims DEAR SARA: My chili is too spicy. Is there anything I can add to take the zing (less like “zing,” more like “fire”) out of it? I can’t imagine young children eating this. Help, please! — Debbie, Texas DEAR DEBBIE: Tone it down by adding more of the initial ingredients, [...]
Drawer carts are great for organizing closets. They contain items and tuck into the closet so they aren’t taking up space in a room. They can be used to store hats, mittens or scarves, as a mini dresser, to organize toys or as a file cabinet. The first reader tip shares another way to use [...]
